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Student Vanessa Restrepo-Schild, who led the research, explained: "The synthetic material can generate electrical signals, which stimulate the neurons at the back of our eye just like the original retina.

It is possible could be using it on patients in ten years

Vanessa Restrepo-Schild - Student

"Because it is not made out of cells - or metal - the immune system does not recognise it as a foreign object and so does not attack it.

"There is no scarring or inflammation that can happen with other implants so there is less chance of rejection.

Her team plan to use the prototype on human tissue in the lab, before trying it on animals and then - if all goes well - humans.

OXFORD UNIVERSITY

As it is not made out of cells the immune system does not recognise it as a foreign object

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Miss Restrepo-Schild, a chemist at the University of Oxford, said: "It is possible could be using it on patients in ten years."

The replica retina closely mimics the natural human process and could be used to treat millions with diseases that can cause severe vision loss or blindness.

Retinitis pigmentosa and AMD (age related macular degeneration) are incurable and the most common causes of blindness in old age. They involve the gradual and irreversible destruction of retinal cells.

The device consists of water droplets called hydrogels and biological cell proteins, and is designed like a camera.

The cells act as pixels, detecting and reacting to light to create an image on the 'grey scale'.

Colombian born Miss Restrepo-Child, 24, said this means people using it would be able to see features rather than just silouhettes - as in black and white vision.

The retina is the name given to a diverse group of cells that line the inside of the back of eye.

Rays of light enter the eye and are focused onto the retina which produces a picture that is then is sent along the optic nerve for the brain to interpret.

OXFORD UNIVERSITY

'It is possible could be using it on patients in ten years', says Vanessa Restrepo-Schild

Miss Restrepo-Child said: "As long as the optic nerve is in tact the idea is our implant will restore vision to patients."

Her study published in Scientific Report could revolutionise the bionic implant industry and the development of new, less invasive technologies that more closely resemble human body tissues.

Unlike existing artificial retinal implants the cell-cultures are created from natural, biodegradable materials and do not contain foreign bodies or living entities.

In this way the implant is less invasive than a mechanical devise and is less likely to have an adverse reaction on the body.

Miss Restrepo-Schild said: "The human eye is incredibly sensitive which is why foreign bodies like metal retinal implants can be so damaging.

"But a biological synthetic implant is soft and water based, so much more friendly to the eye environment.'

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Unlike existing retinal implants the cell-cultures are created from natural, biodegradable materials

She added: "I've always been fascinated by the human body and want to prove that current technology could be used to replicate the function of human tissues, without having to actually use living cells.

"I have taken the principals behind vital bodily functions, e.g. our sense of hearing, touch and the ability to detect light, and replicated them in a laboratory environment with natural, synthetic components.

"I hope my research is the first step in a journey towards building technology that is soft and biodegradable instead of hard and wasteful."

Miss Restrepo-Schild has filed a patent for the technology and now plans to get the implant to recognise different colours, shapes and symbols.